COLUMBUS – Although his mouth got him into trouble in 2013, who better to put a positive spin on Ohio State in the wake of losing quarterback Braxton Miller than senior wide receiver Evan Spencer?

Spencer landed in coach Urban Meyer's doghouse this past season for saying the Buckeyes would "wipe the floor" with Alabama as teams jockeyed for a berth in the final BCS national championship game. He was off-limits to the media after that.

So it seemed odd that he was one of the five players Meyer allowed to meet with reporters Monday for the first game week interviews of 2014.

Then again, it made perfect sense because Meyer knows Spencer's supreme confidence in his team — although it could have backfired this past season — is exactly what the Buckeyes need heading into Saturday's opener with Navy.

"The difference this year, obviously, is depth," Spencer said. "With as many playmakers as we have on offense, we're going to find ways to get people the ball. Whether it's in space or we have to design something to get people open downfield, we'll have a plethora of ways to distribute the pill. It will be exciting to watch.

"Honestly, I'm so excited to see what happens. I think we're going to be pretty good — pushing freaky."

From clown show — Meyer's description of the offense in his first spring (2012) — to freak show two years later.

"It's night and day, definitely," Spencer said. "We've got so much depth, so much talent, so much athleticism, it's going to be really, really fun."

Still, the question marks might be greater than the skill level. Redshirt freshman J.T. Barrett takes over for Miller for his first meaningful snaps since getting hurt midway through his senior high school season in Texas. The Buckeyes are replacing four-fifths of their offensive line, with battles still going on at left guard and center. And, at least in the early going, it looks like a committee of largely unproven running backs will try to replace Carlos Hyde, who was as good as any tailback in the nation at the end of this past season.

But you probably won't find Spencer backing off in his optimism, even if the Midshipmen throw a scare into the Buckeyes like they did in 2009 — when the Buckeyes needed a PAT interception return by linebacker Brian Rolle to seal a 31-27 victory in Ohio Stadium.

"The biggest lesson I learned (from his 'wipe the floor' remark) is that I'm confident to a fault," Spencer said. "Maybe I took it too far. But I love my teammates and I'm confident in my teammates."

While most of the preseason focus has been on Barrett replacing Miller, it won't matter how he plays if there's dysfunction in front of him. Junior tackle Taylor Decker is the only returning starter on the offensive line and he's moving from the right side to Barrett's blind side.

As for skill players around Barrett, the hope is sheer athleticism will override relative inexperience. Sophomore Ezekiel Elliott, who suffered a broken wrist in fall camp, is the projected No. 1 tailback, with senior Rod Smith — largely an enigma to this point — and true freshman Curtis Samuel bracketing Elliott on the depth chart.

Meyer lists Spencer and senior Devin Smith as the starting receivers, but expects to use a six-man rotation that includes Michael Thomas, Corey Smith and H-backs Dontre Wilson and Jalin Marshall — two electrifying members of the 2013 recruiting class.

"We're going to have to develop cohesiveness, but everything's been high energy because there are guys competing for spots," Decker said. "Everybody's going hard. That's good. It's going to prepare us well for games."

Any hangover from the abrupt ending to Miller's season appears gone.

"It was a shock at first, but everybody realizes we've got 81 other scholarship players here," Decker said. "One guy doesn't make the team, even though (Miller) made a huge difference. We just have to pick each other up."

Decker likes the way the "next man up" under center has manned up.

"(Barrett) definitely has more of a voice in the huddle because he knows he's become the face of the program overnight," Decker said. Other than that, he's always gone about his business and handled himself well.

"We don't think the season's over. I think we can do whatever we want to do if we practice hard, do what we're supposed to do and take care of our bodies."